IFFI's 50th edition would have been grand under Parrikar: CM

The golden jubilee edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) would have been celebrated on a grand scale in Goa by late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar if he had been alive, his successor Pramod Sawant said on Thursday. Sawant was speaking in the Assembly on demands for grants for the Information and Publicity Department.

The department, through its special purpose vehicle the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) is the local host for the IFFI since 2004 when the event traveled to Goa. Goa is now the permanent venue for IFFI.

"It was a dream of Manohar Parrikar to have a conventional center (at the festival venue). We have taken up the project to construct it. "If he was alive today, he would have celebrated the 50th edition of IFFI on a grand scale, the way he had done it in the year 2004, Sawant said.

Sawant took over as Goa's Chief Minister after the demise of Parrikar on March 17 this year. The chief minister said this years edition of IFFI will see films being screened in different villages of the state.

"We will also involve local artists in entertainment programs across Goa, he said. This year, the IFFI will be held from November 20-28.